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Post by holly on Nov 8, 2017 3:54:03 GMT
Would you let (want) your 19-20yo daughter to take the Greyhound bus somewhere? Daughter has a car but could have some winter driving conditions that you'd prefer her not to drive in. It's about a 7-8 hr drive.
We have some friends who's daughter is away at college. She was telling us that her daughter's friend was planning to visit. She was worried because she was driving by herself and there's always a possibility of bad weather (Montana). So she told her daughter that her friend should take the bus. It would "only add on a couple hrs" "she could do her homework" "save on gas". My DH and I were somewhat aghast that she would recommend the bus and she was somewhat offended that we didn't think it was a good idea.
Now, maybe I have seen too many movies but I don't want my daughter (and probably not my son either) going on the bus unless that's the only way available, I'd rather she didn't go. Admittedly I haven't ever been on a Greyhound but I've been to the bus station for them.
For what's it's worth the friend made the drive just fine:)
I was just curious as to what others thought.
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Nov 8, 2017 4:01:59 GMT
Coincidentally, I had the same dilemma with DD last summer. She had just turned 20 and needed to get from Sacramento to Los Angeles. I was horrified at the thought of it, but she insisted it would be fine. I warned her about the dangers I imagined that lurked in every corner. Ultimately, it was very normal and fine. Of course, we were at the bus station to meet her immediately upon arrival. Other than a long delay coming into LA due to a wildfire, everything was uneventful.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 8, 2017 4:04:50 GMT
My mother put me and my brother on the Greyhound bus from LA to Las Vegas. I was 14 and my brother was 16. Our grandfather met us in Las Vegas (he was a greyhound bus driver) and took us the rest of the way to SLC. We hung out on Fremont Street until the grandpa's bus got to the station. I lived to tell the story.
What exactly do you think would happen to your 19 year old on the bus?
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Nov 8, 2017 4:12:18 GMT
My fears weren't regarding the bus, but rather the bus station. I took some long distance bus trips in my 20s, and have been in Greyhound stations late at night. It's a little scary. Still, I too lived to tell the story.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Nov 8, 2017 4:16:31 GMT
I also lived but it was very very long time ago!
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Nov 8, 2017 4:17:51 GMT
I took the bus back and forth between Columbia, Mo and Kansas City when I was in college (when I couldn't get a ride). I also took it a few times in HS to visit relatives in Iowa. I survived.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 8, 2017 4:18:24 GMT
I have ridden the bus many times in my college years....but that was long ago.
Even then the bus stations were creepy.
Texas has a bus named Mega Bus that is double decker, wifi, etc.
I would probably let college student ride Greyhound, but have a serious talk about watching others.
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Nov 8, 2017 4:20:13 GMT
I took a greyhound from Texas to Illinois when I was 18 back in 2002..I was on my own for years before that so I didn't have anyone to tell me "no you can't go". Anyways I was fine. I've taken a bus since then 3 other times and was just fine. I won't do it anymore because it kills my back though. There is a lot of little old ladies that ride it and are very nice...there are some odd ducks, but if you keep to yourself everything will be ok. When you have a layover I don't recommend venturing off the bus area grounds though because some areas can be sketchy...just stay inside. I remember cops being stationed at the larger terminals also.
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Post by mrssmith on Nov 8, 2017 4:22:48 GMT
I'd be more worried about the bus driving in bad weather and having an accident.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:59:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 4:24:49 GMT
My daughter is taking the megabus to NYC. It is her second time.
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Jili
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Post by Jili on Nov 8, 2017 4:26:24 GMT
My daughter took Greyhound from a central IL town to Iowa City. This was a few years ago. She was about 19 at the time. The ride was fine overall-- she did say that there were some interesting characters on the bus, including a guy who got on the bus at one of the stops carrying nothing but a shoebox. He sat near her and asked her if he could borrow her cell phone because he didn't have one, being that he'd just gotten out of prison. She told him no and he was OK with that, I guess.
She said that the ride was fine, but she had a layover for about an hour in Davenport. For whatever reason she was a little freaked out by the bus station. She called me while she was there and asked if I could just talk to her. So we talked on the phone until it was time for her to get back on the bus for the last leg of the trip.
For a 7-8 hour drive, I'd look for a flight just for the convenience of it. In this situation and at that age I have no problem with my dd making her own decision about what to do. I'd just offer my input (relentlessly, LOL) relative to the pros and cons.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 8, 2017 4:32:13 GMT
I rode it probably four or five times. I sat up front and was just fine.
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Post by workingclassdog on Nov 8, 2017 4:36:39 GMT
No not in a million years.. I would much rather my DD drive it than to take the bus. My DH HAD to take the Greyhound bus when he started a new job and had to go to another state. It was too late to get a plane ticket (too expensive) and we couldn't afford it out of pocket, so the bus was the option. He said there were sooo many sketchy people on there, and dirty (not persay people, just in general)... so yeah I would rather worry about her driving than being on a bus. 19/20 I was driving across the US for a job... it's something I just think that is what older teens/early 20s need to experience anyways.
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 8, 2017 5:08:21 GMT
My daughter took Greyhound from a central IL town to Iowa City. This was a few years ago. She was about 19 at the time. The ride was fine overall-- she did say that there were some interesting characters on the bus, including a guy who got on the bus at one of the stops carrying nothing but a shoebox. He sat near her and asked her if he could borrow her cell phone because he didn't have one, being that he'd just gotten out of prison. She told him no and he was OK with that, I guess. She said that the ride was fine, but she had a layover for about an hour in Davenport. For whatever reason she was a little freaked out by the bus station. She called me while she was there and asked if I could just talk to her. So we talked on the phone until it was time for her to get back on the bus for the last leg of the trip. For a 7-8 hour drive, I'd look for a flight just for the convenience of it. In this situation and at that age I have no problem with my dd making her own decision about what to do. I'd just offer my input (relentlessly, LOL) relative to the pros and cons. A few years ago a girlfriend took the bus from Palm Springs to Los Angeles. There is no bus station in Palm Springs, you literally stand at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and the bus stops. 😳There were a couple of newly released dudes on board already. They didn't know each other from the inside so kept everyone entertained as they compared stories and future plans. We picked her up at the bus station and it's not an area I want to go near again especially after dark. As others have said, the bus isn't as bad as the bus stations. I'd rather my DD drove or would look into a flight for that distance over taking the bus. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 5:34:45 GMT
I should add:
Montana roads are really not bad to drive on in winter. They know snow, and move quickly to clear highways.
If she is in butte, and is a church going gal, she will be happy to know that all the churches are cleared out first! Lol.
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Post by disneypal on Nov 8, 2017 12:43:56 GMT
Sure, I wouldn't mind if she took the bus - she can sleep, read, etc. instead of having to drive. It is a safe way to travel. My co-worker's son is in college about 6 hours away and when he comes home to visit, he always takes Greyhound. He has never had any problems.
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Post by AN on Nov 8, 2017 12:59:34 GMT
I've taken the bus a few times, and on the routes I was on, the bus was about 50% convicts who had just gotten out of prison. Not an exaggeration - they seemed to be from 2 different prisons based on the clothes they were wearing. The white skinhead looking dudes were in all gray sweatsuits and the black guys were in blue with a denim jacket. Several of them had the clear TVs/radios you can purchase in prison.
I got on at a midway stop, so there weren't a lot of seats left. You don't always have an option to sit near the front or near a non-shady looking person. The drivers also have zero shits to give, you are solidly on your own.
And, that all said, it was fine. As long as she knows where she's going on the other end, it won't be an issue. I wouldn't hang around the bus station staring at my phone trying, looking lost and trying to figure out where I'm supposed to go. If recommend keeping any signs of money or electronics as inconspicuous as possible. It's fine house your phone on the bus, just don't be distracted and making yourself a target at the station. Even if you just walk to a diner or something, keep your head up and walk with purpose before you pull out your phone to look for a map or call an uber.
I'm sure I made it sound scary, and it was kind of intimidating every time I took it. But it's an interesting life experience and she just needs to have situational awareness and not have her head buried in her phone, which will be tempting if there are weirdos about. I recommend a book/magazine, no headphones except when the bus is underway. Wearing headphones can sometimes keep creeps away, but be sure not to be listening to anything so you can hear what's going on at a station.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 8, 2017 13:09:28 GMT
I've taken the bus a few times, and on the routes I was on, the bus was about 50% convicts who had just gotten out of prison. Yikes. But I pity the convict that would try to take you on. And I mean that in the nicest way - lol. You are so dang level-headed and focused. They'd have their hands full trying to pull one over on you. I rode the bus (except I think it was mostly Trailways rather than Greyhound) a good bit when I was a teenager. I was too young to drive so the bus enabled me to visit my beloved grandmother and aunt in Atlanta. I never had a single issue, but it was only a couple of hours, always in daylight hours, and occurred about a hundred years ago. |
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Post by AN on Nov 8, 2017 13:17:58 GMT
To be fair, the routes were in Illinois, so those ex-cons very well could have been former state governors.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 8, 2017 13:18:32 GMT
Bwaahaahaa!
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 8, 2017 13:51:39 GMT
I did it once (6 hours by car) it took 8 hours by bus (it was late due to traffic and then stopped for dinner at the other end). The only problem was the destination bus station was literally a picnic table and a payphone and it was dark (and cold since it was March). I survived but would probably make sure there is an actual station with people at the other end next time...
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Post by janskylar on Nov 8, 2017 13:54:15 GMT
I took a Greyhound round trip from Memphis to NYC in December and January by myself at age 18. It was fine. As long as your daughter isn't afraid of poor people, she has nothing to worry about. People aren't riding the bus looking for people to assault or whatever you are scared of. They're just trying to get from Point A to Point B just like your daughter. Many of the passengers will be women.
My only complaints are the same as on planes...Crying babies and gross public restrooms (I assume the latter but have never been to the lav on a plane or a bus). She'll probably feel less cramped than on a plane.
My boyfriend's mom takes the bus between LA and OKC multiple times a year. No one has ever hassled her.
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Post by holly on Nov 8, 2017 14:46:47 GMT
Ok, obviously I've seen too many movies, lol. Glad most everyone had a positive experience. I definitely see the advantages. I admit I was being judgy (sp). When we travel we use public transportation a lot so my kids are somewhat experienced with it. I just had a bad connotation with the Greyhound, mainly the bus stations. And I know a lot of them run weird hours.
This particular mom has tried passing on her driving fears to others. She will let her daughter drive the 7 hr drive through Montana but won't let her drive 4.5 hrs to Seattle. Because there is traffic in Seattle 😳. So when we sometimes have these discussions her decisions color my views about what she allows. I'm of the school that you won't ever get experience if you don't do it! I was driving all over the place at 19-20 and my parents thought nothing of it. If I got stranded, I called AAA (before cell phones so usually had to walk to find a phone). I could go on but I will leave it there. I always had a car so never had a need for the bus, therefore my lack of knowledge in the bus department 😊
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garcia5050
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Post by garcia5050 on Nov 8, 2017 14:51:25 GMT
My mom put us on busses from a young age so that we would feel comfortable with it. I'm glad she did, as it's yet another option to get from one point to another. I'm doing the same with my kids now.
But I am amazed at how many people have never been on a bus (including school bus).
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ginacivey
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Post by ginacivey on Nov 8, 2017 15:00:22 GMT
well...she's 20 - she can probably handle it
there are scary things in this world - and riding a greyhound bus doesn't even make my radar
it wouldn't be my first choice
it's a sucky way to travel
i rode one at 18 - home and back to basic training - it was the holiday break and we couldn't afford air travel
it's sketchy but doable
gina
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Post by Zee on Nov 8, 2017 15:13:18 GMT
I did it a few times when I was young. It was miserable but I lived.
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Post by brina on Nov 8, 2017 15:29:42 GMT
Yes, I would allow it.
Just last week we (my daughter (14), my son (17) and I) were in Buffalo for my daughter's hockey tournament. My son wanted to look at a college in Rochester. I am the manager of my daughter's team, so couldn't just ask other parents to keep an eye on her while I was gone. My son took Greyhound from Buffalo to Rochester and back. All three of my kids have traveled on the Chicago Metro trains, the CTA and Amtrack on their own.
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Post by mom on Nov 8, 2017 15:32:44 GMT
so is that a 'no' for you? SaveSave |
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psiluvu
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Post by psiluvu on Nov 8, 2017 15:34:26 GMT
Well my 18 yr old took the bus from Kingston to Montreal last weekend and had such a blast she plans on doing it again. IMO not a big deal at ALL.
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perumbula
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Post by perumbula on Nov 8, 2017 15:34:50 GMT
I have had my dd take a Greyhound bus. The trip was about the same distance as the OP is talking about. She survived just fine and had a relaxing trip. She was safer on the bus than she would have been driving an old car on her own.
This is going to be controversial: She's 20. She's supposed to be an adult. If you did your job as a parent, your kid should be able to navigate a bus station and bus ride at 20. If they can't, you screwed up somewhere. It's not always going to be the most pleasant experience, but so what? That's life. If the bus ride is the best solution then let her ride the bus.
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